| name | acquire-codebase-knowledge |
| description | Map an unfamiliar repository into a usable working model by documenting stack, structure, architecture, integrations, testing, and known concerns. |
| category | Task |
| pinned | true |
| trigger_hints | onboarding, codebase map, architecture, structure, testing, discovery |
Acquire codebase knowledge
Map an unfamiliar repository into a usable working model by documenting stack, structure, architecture, integrations, testing, and known concerns.
When to Use This Skill
Use this when onboarding into an existing codebase, recovering context after a long gap, or building a durable architecture map before major changes.
Workflow Overview
- Scan the repo and read the intent documents before making architecture claims.
- Capture the real stack, directory layout, entry points, integrations, and testing setup from source evidence.
- Separate verified facts from unknowns instead of guessing through ambiguous areas.
- Produce a concise codebase map that future work can reuse for implementation, review, and onboarding.
Examples
- Map this repo before we start a risky refactor.
- Create a usable architecture and testing overview for a new engineer.
- Recover the real structure of a repo whose README has drifted.
